C.J. Stroud has helped the Houston Texans reach the NFL playoffs in all three of his seasons with the team. The issue is that he struggled severely this year and played a direct role in their elimination.
This has resulted in general manager Nick Caserio responding to the swirling rumors that the quarterback could be traded during the offseason.
C.J. Stroud Trade Rumors Addressed by Texans General Manager Nick Caserio
Stroud has turned in an identical 1-1 playoff record in all three of his seasons with the Texans so far. His first two years in the postseason included 4 total touchdowns and just 1 interception. His most recent season was much more concerning, with 3 touchdowns and 5 interceptions.
His alarming struggles have fueled speculation that the Texans may trade him during the 2026 NFL offseason. Caserio was recently asked about the possibility, and he directly responded with their plan for the quarterback.
“He’s not going anywhere … We’re glad he’s out quarterback,” stated Caserio.
#Texans general manager Nick Caserio on C.J. Stroud called trade speculation ‘moronic’ and emphasized ‘We’re not trading C.J. We’re glad he’s our quarterback’ @KPRC2 pic.twitter.com/2wo55YXqBm
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) February 24, 2026
The general manager also called the trade speculation “moronic,” expressing full confidence in keeping Stroud as their quarterback. Winning three playoff games across his first three seasons is a solid result, despite his individual performances declining since his impressive rookie year.
His first season included finishing as the fifth-overall quarterback in PFSN’s Impact Rankings, but he finished just 33rd and 19th in the two years since. His yardage and touchdown totals have decreased each season, suggesting he is trending in the wrong direction, despite his team’s relative success.
He was unimpressive this year in their Wild Card round victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, before a disastrous performance against the New England Patriots eliminated them from the playoffs. He completed just 20 of his 47 passing attempts in the contest and also threw 4 interceptions.
Caserio insisted that they will still keep Stroud as their starting quarterback and have no interest in exploring a potential trade. He has clearly proven capable of making them legitimate playoff contenders, but a deep postseason run has still evaded him to this point in his career.
The Texans are expected to be in the mix again next season, especially given their elite defense, which has ranked among the top defenses in each of the past two years. If Stroud can get back to what he was as a rookie, or better, a Super Bowl seems to be a realistic possibility.
